Platform-scale



E. SAMPSON.

Platform Scales.

No. 24,143. Patented May 24, 1859.

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ELNATHAN SAMPSON, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT.

PLATFORM-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,143, dated May 24, 1859.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELNATHAN SAMPsoN, of St. Johnsbury, in the county of Caledonia and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Railroad Platform-Scales; and f do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a side view of the chief portion of my invention, a portion being bisected vertically as indicated by the lines fc, 6c, m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2, is a plan or top view of the chief portion of ditto, a portion being bisected horizontally as indicated by the line y, y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to adapt what is known as platform scales to a rail-road in such a manner that the scales will be rendered extremely durable, all the diiiiculties attending the ordinary mode of application being obviated and the device rendered much more simple and efficient.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, A, represent two rails of a rail-road, said rails being a section of the road which forms the platform of the scales. These rails A, A, are attached to sleepers B. Three sleepers are shown in the drawings but more or less may be used as desired. At each end of each sleeper two uprights a, d, are attached. The uprights may be of cast metal and they are secured to proper sill pieces D, D, which are placed below the rails A, A, a sill piece being at each side of the track or platform.

To the upper ends of each pair of uprights a, c, a horizontal plate Z), is attached. These plates have elliptical openings c made in them, one in each, and on each plate Z), there are two bearings (Z, (Z, which receive the axis e, of a pendent lever E. The levers E, are allowed to work freely on their axis c, and in the upper part of each lever E, a screw rod F, is fitted. These rods are some distance from the axes c, of the levers and to their lower ends sockets f, are attached into which the ends of rods g, are secured by pins g. The rods g, connecting the several levers E, at each side of the track or platform. The rods g, g, at one end of the track or platform are attached to arms 7L, L, of a shaft G, to which the graduated beam is attached as usual or in any proper way. The sockets f, are fitted to the lower ends of the levers E, in consequence of projections 2'., on said sockets fitting in recesses in the upper parts of forks j, in the lower parts of the levers E, see Fig. l. n the upper parts of the levers E, and at opposite sides of their axes to the rods F, horizontal rods c, are placed having each a knife edged bearing Z, see Fig. l. There is one rod Ze, in each lever E, and on each knife-edged bearing Z, a yoke H, is placed, said yokes being connected at each end by links m, to the ends of the sleepers B, as shown clearly in Fig. l.

From the above description it will be seen that if the shaft G, be turned so as to actuate or move the levers E, in the direct-ion indicated by the arrows, Fig. l, the yokes H, will be raised simultaneously and the track or rails A, A, which constitute the platform will be balanced on the aXes e, 7c, the weight on the beam being made to counterpoise the platform and weight thereon through the medium of the shaft G, arms it, 7L, connecting rods g, and levers E. The rods F, to which the connecting rods g, are directly attached may be adjusted or raised and lowered so that each lever F, may be made of equal length, that is to say, have the same leverage and thereby avoid the diiliculty that might ensue attending` any variation in length of said levers. his will be clearly understood by referring to Fig. l, in which it will be seen that each rod F, is provided with nuts a, which admit of their adjustment.

By this invention the device is applied in a very direct manner to th platform and the weight on the platform and the shaking or movement thereof is not permitted to injure or wear the knife-edged bearings Z, of the axes 7c, of the yokes H, for the links m, will not transmit the staking or vibratory movement of the platform to the yokes. The long cumbersome and weighty levers hitherto used are also dispensed with, the device is rendered more durable, and may be readily kept in correct weighing order.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1fatent, is-

l. Attaching the rails A, A, of the platform direct to sleepers B, which are connected at each end by links mi, to yokes H, fitted llo on levers E, the loWer ends of said levers at E, to permit of the Compe'sato of the same each side of the platform being connected for the purpose speced. together and to the shaft G, of the scale beam by rods g, substanally as and for the purpose set forth.

2. I also claim the employment or use of the adjustable rods F, attached to the levers ELNATHAN SAMPSON.

Witnesses:

J oHN BACON, 2d, GEO. F. BROWN. 

